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The story of the Gor Mahia legend who came face to face with Real Madrid legends Alfredo de Stefano & Ferenc Puskas
Jack Johnsen was a Danish football coach who gained acclaim and a became a legend of Gor Mahia when he steered the club to win the Africa cup in 1987.
At the time, funny enough, he was working as a Technical Advisor, but he was the mastermind behind the tactics that propelled the team at the time to success, with Maurice Ochieng’ “Sonyi” serving as head coach.
Early life
Jack Johnsen was born in 1924 but was orphaned when he was a toddler and had to grow up in an orphanage. He decided to change his second name from Johnsen to Johnson in honor of the American boxer Jack Johnson who at the time was the world boxing heavyweight champion.
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06:09 - 18.07.2024
Sammy Shollei suggests strategic shift for Gor Mahia after regional setback
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Although he changed his name to that of the boxer, he wasn’t cut for boxing. At 7 years he took up football and his big break came when he was 17 when he got called up for Danish club Boldklubben 1909.
Playing and coaching career
Jack was known as a utility player who could be deployed in almost any area of the pitch, but his favorite position was the right side of the mid field.
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Nicknamed iron-man, he was a solid tackler who would play box to box tirelessly like Kante. Maybe he wanted to embody his childhood hero who was also known for his toughness in boxing, not to mention his huge size.
He would later leave Denmark and join Dundee United in Scotland in the mid-1950s. After a short time, He returned to Denmark to his beloved Boldklubben 1909 and ended his playing career there at the gae of 36.
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18:00 - 17.07.2024
Harambee Stars' 2019 AFCON stalwart eyes return after three years in the cold
The former Gor Mahia defender, who played a key role at Harambee Stars' AFCON 2019 campaign, is targeting a return to the national set up after three years in the cold.
Coaching career
His coaching career started in 1959 when at Boldklubben 1913, a club also based in the City of Odense and a fierce rival of his boyhood club, Boldklubben 1909.
At the time, the club was in the second tier but with Johnsen on the wheel, they shot up to the first tier and became contenders for the first tier title. Although they did not win it, Boldklubben 1913 placed second once and placed third twice and in 1963, they won the Danish cup.
They played in the European cup and after beating Spora Luxembourg in the preliminary round before running into a tornado-volcano kind of team that is Real Madrid that had the likes of Alfredo de Stefano and Ferenc Puskas. They lost that game 12-0 to Los Blancos. Jack ended his stay at Boldklubben 1913 in 1967 and then returned from 1972 to 1973.
How he arrived in Kenya
In 1971, after leaving Boldklubben 1913, he got the job at OB Odense, the most popular club in Denmark. The team had been relegated to the second tier in 1968 and had searched for Johnson in the hopes of promotion back to the top tier.
They were not really successful as they finished 8th twice in the second tier leading to his Sacking and replacement by Richard Moller Nielsen.
Other than OB Odense, he coached other Danish club including Svendborg and Koldin and moved to other countries like Norway, Iceland the Faroe Islands and Baharain.
Because of his hot temper, Johnson had burned all his bridges by the time his European career was ending and he had nothing tying him to Denmark. He had actually become very less popular. But when asked about it, he said that he was not put on this earth to be popular. This is now he came to Kenya. 1987.
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16:30 - 17.07.2024
Government provides positive update over progress of Kasarani and Talanta stadia ahead of AFCON 2027
The Government has provided a positive update over the progression of both the Kasarani and Talanta Sports City stadia ahead of AFCON 2027.
Jack Johnson arrives at Gor Mahia
When he arrived at Gor Mahia, he introduced new tactics never seen before in Kenya. Gor Mahia was used to playing 4-3-3 and was always blessed with brilliant wingers.
Jack introduced the 3-5-2 formation and provided more emphasis on twin strikers. Fans were opposed to this alongside the holding midfielder concept of which he assigned the role to Isaiah Omondi ‘janabi’ who was a bendh warmer at the time. This role would later cement him as one of the most pivitol players in Gor Mahia’s golden era.
Another player who thrived under Jack was Peter Dawo. Although he was not technically gifted like his coach, he made up for his lack of tactical prowess with hard work, aggressiveness and he played like he had a never-ending running motor in his body.
These tactical changes proved fruitful for Gor. Despite being a hard coach with intensive training, he brought a much more premium style of play to the team.
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06:23 - 18.07.2024
Dan Shikanda reveals AFC Leopards' transfer plans ahead of new season
AFC Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda has revealed the club's transfer strategy ahead of the new FKFPL season.
Cup triumphs with K’Ogalo
Won the local cup which was then known as the Moi cup in 1987, 1988, and 1989.
Beat rivals AFC Leopards 2-0 in the final in 1987.
Beat breweries now known as Tusker FC 1-0. Winner scored by Peter Dawo in the 75th minute.
Jack leaved Gor
In 1989, Gor started having acute financial problems and Gor Mahia could no longer hold on to Jack. He moved to arch rivals AFC Leopards midway though that year mastermined a famous 2-1 win over Gor Mahia.
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08:30 - 17.07.2024
CECAFA Kagame Cup: Al Hilal coach points out two key tactical elements Gor Mahia are good at
Although Gor Mahia have had an average tournament, Al Hilal coach Florent Ibenge has revealed two things they are very great at.
A defeat so painful that the Gor fans could not stomach seeing their former legendary coach using his own Gor Mahia tactics with another team. It was like cheating on a spouse.
He moved to Uganda but his tint there ended quickly as he was considered unfit for the job due to his old age. He was in his 70s.
Jack returned to Denmark where he died in a nursing home in Frederiksberg on 24th April 2002 at 77 years.
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